"Hehehe, woman, what have you decided? Our patience is running out!"
"Hmph, do you think you can escape? You've caught the eye of our captain!"
"Don't expect anyone to come to your rescue. Our captain is highly favored by the minister. Do you think anyone would dare to ruin his plans?"
Seeing the woman's look of despair, the three guards felt no sympathy Instead, they were filled with a twisted excitement. If it weren't for the fact that the captain had claimed her, they would have already pounced on her like beasts!
"Waaah, Mommy, I'm scared…"
The little girl, though she didn't fully understand what was happening, had an innate sense of danger. Her young heart was shrouded in fear, and she clung tightly to her mother's clothes, crying uncontrollably.
The woman had already collapsed to the ground in despair. She had never held any hope for this world, which felt like hell, or for the monsters disguised as humans around her. The one person she had placed her hopes in had failed to keep his promise and fulfill his oath.
Now, even the last glimmer of hope in her heart had vanished. Her heart felt as if it had been plunged into a freezing cellar. Her eyes lost their spark, and her entire body became numb, unable to feel anything.
Hatred—endless hatred!
"I'll go with you, but please spare my daughter."
Her voice was calm, devoid of any emotion.
The woman knew she had no hope left. Even though she was filled with despair for this world and hatred for that person, even if she had to abandon everything, she couldn't give up on her daughter. Her daughter was her only and final attachment.
"Waaah, no! Mommy, don't go! Mommy has to stay with Logue forever!"
The little girl cried loudly, already sensing that she was about to lose the most important person in her life. Her pure heart was tainted with despair, and she clung to her mother's clothes, refusing to let go. Her teary eyes glared at the three demons with anger and hatred.
The girl's gaze was like an arrow piercing the hearts of the three men, causing even their dark and corrupted souls to tremble for a moment. For an instant, they felt boundless guilt and sympathy…
But it was only for a moment!
In the next second, their faces twisted into expressions of cruelty and malice.
"Bitch, you've exhausted our patience!"
"Spare your daughter? Hahaha, I forgot to tell you—the captain didn't just want you, he wants both of you! Hahaha…"
"She's still a bit young, but our captain has a wide range of tastes, hahaha…"
"Hand her over, now!"
The three men seemed unwilling to waste any more time. They fully revealed their monster faces, and one of them snatched the little girl from the woman's arms, his face filled with bloodlust and cruelty.
"Waaah, you beasts! Give Logue back to me!"
"Mommy, Mommy! Let me go, you big bad guys!"
…
Fear and despair filled the air, but no matter how much the mother and daughter struggled, they couldn't change their tragic fate. Their strength was too small; they could do nothing.
The man holding the little girl exchanged a glance with his two companions, who stepped forward to restrain the woman. They had done this too many times before. No matter how much the victims struggled or cursed, it always ended with them begging for mercy.
However, just as the two men were about to grab the woman, something unexpected happened.
"Hehehe, I never thought I'd get to witness such an exciting show!"
"Thank you, gentlemen. I feel like I've learned a lot from you."
A man's voice suddenly rang out, causing everyone to freeze and turn their heads toward the door.
There, leaning against the doorframe with a sly smile, was a black-haired, black-eyed man. His eyes gleamed with an unusual light.
The newcomer was Sora. He had actually arrived a while ago, but the scoundrel thought it would be a shame to interrupt such a thrilling performance. So, he waited until the very last moment to reveal himself.
"Who are you? This is the guard's business. If you're not involved, get lost!"
"Kid, if you're smart, you'll leave now. Otherwise, hmph…"
Although Sora had become a general of the empire, he and Esdeath had only visited the minister's house once and rarely made public appearances. So, the three guards didn't recognize him and assumed he was just an ordinary passerby.
While they were annoyed by this interruption, their captain was waiting for them to bring the woman back. They didn't want to waste time and just wanted to shoo Sora away.
Of course, that was just their wishful thinking.
"Help! Uncle, save me and Mommy!"
The woman, still on the ground, was initially stunned. But when she regained her senses, she remained filled with despair. She had already seen the true nature of this world. Even if someone appeared, could they really save her and her daughter?
The little girl, however, didn't have such complicated thoughts. She instinctively cried out for help.
The three guards sneered, not believing that this random stranger would dare to oppose them.
But in the next moment—
"Got it, little angel!"
With a grin and a snap of his fingers, Sora, who had been leaning against the doorframe, suddenly vanished!
Thud! Thud!
Two sounds of blood spurting.
No one fell, and no one died. Everyone was confused.
But when the other two guards glanced at their companion who had been holding the little girl, their eyes widened in shock and disbelief!
Dazed and confused, the man looked down at himself and saw a horrifying sight.
The little girl was gone…
And so were his two hands…
No, "gone" wasn't the right word. The two clouds of blood mist still lingering in the air—those must have been his hands!
"Ahhh!!! Ahhh!!!"
A blood-curdling scream!
The man, now armless, collapsed to the ground, writhing in pain and fear. The other two guards, finally snapping out of their shock, drew their weapons and frantically searched around.
"Die, you monster!"
They eventually found Sora standing in front of the woman. Filled with rage and terror, they raised their swords and charged at him.
But in the next moment, they stopped in their tracks, and even the armless man's screams ceased.
Because, in the blink of an eye, several stunningly beautiful girls in identical uniforms appeared before them. Each held a rapier, the tip pressed against the guards' throats.
"Don't move, don't make a sound until the master's business is finished. Otherwise—"
"Death!"
The girls all wore cold and bloodthirsty smiles on their faces, their voices filled with endless killing intent, leaving the three with no doubt that if they disobeyed in the slightest, they would be killed!